I joined Keele University as Lecturer in Chemistry in December 2011 and I am a member of the Research Institute for Environmental Physics and Applied Mathematics EPSAM.

I studied Physical Chemistry at Belgrade University, Serbia and after obtaining my BSc in 1997 I worked as Consultant in Chemistry for three years in Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection Co, Serbia. I then started my postgraduate studies at Auburn University, USA under the supervision of Prof Eric Bakker and obtained my PhD in 2005. My work contributed towards better understanding of response mechanisms of ionophore-based sensors. One of the important consequences of this work was improvement of the detection limit of up to six orders of magnitude.

Following my studies, I joined the group of Prof Dermot Diamond at Dublin City University, Ireland as postdoctoral researcher and stayed here for 5 years. I worked on real-life applications of ionopore-based sensors and expanded my expertise on materials capable of changing sensing characteristics using external stimuli. Prior to the appointment at Keele, I spent a year as Lecturer in Physical Chemistry and Formulation at the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at University of Portsmouth.

My research is positioned on the interface between material and analytical chemistry and involves the convergence of ionophore-based sensors with materials whose properties can be tuned (e.g ionic liquids (ILs)) or changed using external stimuli (e.g. molecular switches (MSs)). The convergence is achieved through the design, development and exploitation of these materials in sensing applications and a thorough understanding of related recognition mechanisms. I develop both fundamental and applied aspects of my research as I am interested in development of new sensing concepts and platforms and their application on some of the important issues in daily life.

The ultimate goal is development of small, simple, low-cost and user-friendly sensing platforms integrating chemo/bio sensors with digital communication devices. These devices could be used by non-professional people for fast diagnostics at home, in doctor’s office or for in-situ measurements for application in environmental monitoring, control of water and food quality, safety and security, and forensic applications.

Radu A and Bakker E. 2005. Shifting the Measuring Range of Chloride Selective Electrodes and Optodes Based on the Anticrown Ionophore [9]Mercuracarborand-3 by the Addition of 1-Decanethiol. Chem Analityczna, vol. 50(1), 71-83. link>